Abstract: An adjustable jack includes a tubular support member adapted to be positioned vertically on the floor of an entry in an underground mine. An adjusting screw is telescopically positioned within the support member to advance a load bearing plate into engagement with the roof of the mine entry. A nut assembly positioned on the adjusting screw includes a pair of body portions which surround the adjusting screw and are connected to move radially into and out of threaded engagement with the adjusting screw. A retainer secured to the upper end of the tubular support member is arranged to rotatably receive the nut assembly. When the nut assembly is positioned in the retainer, the nut body portions are positioned in threaded engagement with the adjusting screw to permit advancement of the adjusting screw by rotation of the nut assembly.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly extends longitudinally on the body portion of a mining machine. A forward end portion of the conveyor assembly is pivotally connected to the body portion so that a rearward end portion is movable through a vertical arc to facilitate discharge of mined material at a preselected height above the body portion. The rearward end portion is vertically raised and lowered by a piston cylinder assembly that is mounted on the body portion and is connected to the conveyor assembly. Actuation of the piston cylinder assembly positions the conveyor rearward end portion at an elevated position above the body portion. A stabilizing member is positioned between the conveyor assembly and the machine body portion with the upper end portion hingedly connected to the conveyor assembly and the lower end portion positioned for longitudinal movement between vertical sidewalls on the body portion.

Abstract: A gathering platform extends forwardly from the front end of a mixing machine and has an upper surface in which a pair of counter-rotating gathering discs are rotatably mounted. Each disc is rotated to move mined material centrally and rearwardly on the platform upper surface toward a material guide that extends rearwardly in overlying relation with a portion of each of the gathering discs to the receiving end of a longitudinally extending conveyor. A plurality of radially extending slots extend through each disc, and a material gathering arm is positioned in each slot. One end of each arm is connected to rotate with the gathering disc. The opposite end of the arm rides on a cam surface in the gathering platform. The cam surface has a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is positioned at an elevation below the first portion and beneath the material guide.

Abstract: A mining machine having a body portion mounted on propelling tracks includes an endless conveyor mechanism that extends longitudinally on the body portion. The conveyor mechanism is rotatably supported at the front and rear end portions thereof by roller assemblies. The rear roller assembly is longitudinally movable and driven by a hydraulically operated motor to advance the conveyor mechanism from a receiving end portion to a discharging end portion. The discharging end portion is supported for lateral swinging movement relative to the main conveyor portion. Hydraulically operated take-up devices are connected to the rear roller assembly and maintain a preselected tension on the conveyor to prevent slack developing therein. Each take-up device includes a cylinder with a rod having a shoulder portion of a preselected differential area against which fluid pressure is applied to extend the rod from the cylinder.

Abstract: A mining machine having a body portion mounted on propelling tracks includes an endless conveyor mechanism positioned on a conveyor support frame that extends longitudinally on the body portion. The conveyor support frame includes a main conveyor section connected by a link member to a conveyor boom section arranged for lateral swinging movement relative to the main conveyor section. The main conveyor section and the conveyor boom section each include an integral gear member. The gear members of the respective sections are maintained in meshing relation by pivot pins interconnecting the link member with the respective sections. A hydraulic cylinder having an extensible piston rod preferably connects the conveyor boom section to the link member. Actuation of the hydraulic cylinder extends or retracts the piston rod to laterally swing the pivot connection of the conveyor boom section in a preselected direction relative to the pivot pin connection on the main conveyor section.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine is propelled on endless crawler tracks and includes a body portion with a boom extending forwardly therefrom. The boom rotatably supports a drum having peripherally extending cutting elements. A boom stabilizer mounted on the boom includes a plate member pivotally connected at one end to the boom rearward of the drum. A piston cylinder assembly is pivotally mounted on the boom member and includes an extensible piston rod that is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the plate member. Extension of the piston rod pivots the plate member upwardly to a preselected height where the plate upper surface lies on a line tangent to the cutting path of the cutting elements at the top of the drum. When the drum is positioned adjacent the mine roof for sumping into the mine face, the stabilizing plate abuts the mine roof with the cutting elements displaced from the mine roof. As the drum is sumped forward the stabilizing plate prevents the drum from climbing the face into the mine roof.

Abstract: A battery for a combination battery-trolley wire powered mine locomotive is connected at its positive terminal by a conductor to an energized trolley wire that extends through the mine haulageway. A charging contactor having normally open contacts connected to the positive terminal of the battery is connected by a conductor to the negative terminal of the battery. Current from the trolley wire energizes the contactor to close the contacts and supply current to the battery for charging the battery to a preselected voltage level. A voltage sensing apparatus monitors the voltage appearing across the charging contactor. If the voltage exceeds a preselected level for safe charging, one or more Zener diodes is switched to a conductive state to energize a relay coil that actuates a normally closed relay to deenergize the contactor and open the contacts to terminate current flow to the positive terminal of the battery.

Abstract: A self-propelled body portion is provided with a forwardly extending boom member pivotally secured thereto. The boom member includes a pair of parallel forwardly extending arm members that are pivotally secured to the body portion. A pair of parallel support members are movably secured to and extend laterally from the respective arm members. A drum member having cutting elements thereon is rotatably supported at the forward end portion of the support members. A pair of piston cylinder assemblies are secured to the respective arm members and each includes an extensible piston rod secured to a support member. The piston cylinder assemblies are connected by fluid conduits to a hydraulic valve member. A selected one of the drum member end portions may be moved laterally relative to the respective side edge of the gathering device by introducing fluid under pressure from the valve member into the piston cylinder assembly adjacent that side of the mining machine.

Abstract: A mining machine for dislodging solid material from a mine face includes a body portion mounted on endless tracks and a boom member extending forwardly from the body portion with a cutter drum member rotatably mounted on the front end of the boom member. An endless conveyor mechanism is positioned in a longitudinal trough member and conveys dislodged material from the front of the mining machine. A gathering platform extends forwardly from the body portion and the conveyor mechanism and is positioned rearwardly of the cutter drum member. A plurality of rotatably mounted gathering disc members are positioned rearwardly of the forward transverse edge portion on the gathering platform. The gathering discs include a first pair of large discs that are positioned oppositely of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor mechanism. A second pair of smaller gathering discs are positioned laterally of the large gathering discs adjacent the lateral edge portions of the conveying platform.